Iranians have been protesting across the country for nearly a month amid an intense crackdown by security forces.
The demonstrations are considered the most serious challenge to the Iranian authorities in decades.
1 in 1 mass protests have swept Iran for nearly a month after the death of a young man for violating strict rules on wearing the Islamic headscarf, the hijab — Photo: Twitter via BBC
Iran has been plagued by mass protests for nearly a month after the death of a young man for violating strict rules about wearing the Islamic headscarf, the hijab (Photo: Twitter via BBC).
What are the protests about?
It all started with the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22yearold woman who was arrested by morality police in the capital Tehran on September 13 for allegedly violating Iran’s strict rules that require women to cover their hair with a hijab have to.
There were reports that officers hit her on the head with a club. Police said she suffered a heart attack. To support this argument, authorities released footage of Amini collapsing at a police station, but the footage along with images of her in a coma infuriated Iranians.
The first protests took place after Amini’s funeral in the western town of Saqqez, when women tore off the scarves covering her head in an act of solidarity.
Since then, the protests have escalated with demands for more freedoms and the overthrow of the state.
What role do women play?
Videos show women burning their headscarves and cutting their hair in public to chants such as “Woman, Life, Freedom” and “Death to the Dictator” a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Although some women have already publicly protested the hijab, cases have been isolated and harshly repressed. There was nothing compared to the current scale.
In an unprecedented show of support, students have also demonstrated in playgrounds and on the streets.
Men and young people also took part in large numbers and supported the demands of the women.
How did the authorities react?
The Iranian authorities downplayed the protests and tried to use force to suppress them.
Ayatollah Khamenei has accused the United States and Israel, Iran’s archenemies, of orchestrating “riots” dismissed by critics as fabricated.
How many people were killed?
The BBC and other independent media are barred from reporting from Iran, making it difficult to verify claims made by the state press. Social media, activists and human rights groups are helping to provide images, even though authorities have shut down internet and phone services.
Iran Human Rights, a Norwaybased group, said at least 201 people, including 23 children, were killed by security forces.
Security forces denied killing peaceful protesters but were filmed firing live ammunition in the street.
How do they compare to previous protests?
In 2009, millions of people took to the streets after a controversial presidential election. However, the riots were confined to the big cities and led by the middle classes.
The economic hardship sparked nationwide protests in 2017 and 2019, but they mostly took place in workingclass neighborhoods.
But now, for the first time, the protests are involving people from all walks of life and ages, and have spread to dozens of cities and towns.
This text was published at https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/internacional63250948
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